Eli Mencer named CAA Defensive Player of the Week

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ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany linebacker Eli Mencer, who returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown in overtime Saturday, has been named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Mencer’s touchdown finished off the Great Danes’ 19-10 overtime victory over No. 7/8 Villanova at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium. The win was UAlbany’s first over an FCS Top 10 opponent.

The redshirt sophomore from Altoona, Pa., finished with seven tackles and a forced fumble for a defense that limited the Wildcats to just 61 rushing yards.

This marks the second straight week a UAlbany student-athlete won the CAA’s weekly defensive award. After the Great Danes’ 28-14 win over Monmouth in Week 3, senior linebacker Nate Hatalsky was honored for a 15-tackle performance.

As a team, the Great Danes are allowing just 13.8 points per game, second behind only James Madison in the CAA. UAlbany is second-best in total defense (247.5 yards per game) and third-best in rush defense (71.5 yards per game).